BJR extends Percat contract

Nick Percat will remain with Brad Jones Racing until at least the end of the 2020 Supercars season, having scored a two-year contract extension with the Albury squad.

Percat joined BJR at the start of 2017 in what was seen as a major career breakthrough for the South Australian.

Hindered by a string of disasters that left him 19th in the points, 2018 has started on a stronger note for the 29-year-old, sitting 12th in the standings after four events, having scored two podiums at Albert Park.

“The goal with Brad, Kim and the whole team was to fight for race wins and eventually a championship.

“My first year with BJR was character building for the whole team and I, and the way BJR continued to push and get on with the job was seriously impressive.

“This team is a big family, everyone has each other’s back and we all have the same goal.”

Percat has endured a rocky Supercars career since winning the Bathurst 1000 as a rookie with the then Holden Racing Team-branded Walkinshaw outfit in 2011.

His first full campaign did not come until 2014, driving a fourth Walkinshaw Holden that – despite finishing the year an impressive 12th – was shut down at season’s end as the team shrunk to two entries.

Two years at minnow outfit Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport followed. Highlighted by an Adelaide 500 win and Bathurst podium in 2016, it was a trying stint that netted 22nd and 18th in the standings.

Now settled in the family-team environment of BJR, Percat says that continuity is a major plus.

“When Brad and Kim told me they wanted to extend my contract I couldn’t have been happier,” he said.

“BJR is where I want to be and where I think I’ll get my best result. I know the results we have had so far this year are just the beginning, the whole team is working extremely hard to give me a winning package.

“I can’t wait to score my first race win with BJR and continue to improve the car, this will be the longest period of continuity I’ve had in my Supercar career.

“I believe that continuity is what wins races and lets you fight for championships.”

BJR now has both Percat and Tim Slade locked in for 2019, with the latter having secured his own two-year contract extension, which was never formally announced by the team, ahead of this season.

Team owner Brad Jones stressed the benefit of stability as his squad looks to re-establish itself as a consistent front-runner.

“Nick’s commitment and pace for us is unquestionable, so we’re really happy to have that stability and consistency going forward with both Nick in Car 8 and Tim Slade in the Freightliner/Alliance Truck Parts Commodore,” he said.

“I feel like Nick has grown with us in his time here already and he fits into the team really well; I can’t wait to see what we can achieve as a group over the next three years.”

Percat will continue in the colours of Coregas at Barbagallo next month. The #8 entry has been without a full-season sponsor since the start of 2017.